Are Bananas Good For You???

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about
> bananas.? He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of
> bananas on the brain.? Read on:

> Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

> This is interesting.

> After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

> Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
> combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
> boost of energy.
>
> Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
> strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit
> with the world's leading athletes.

> But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also
> help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions,
> making it a must to add to our daily diet.

> Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people
> suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.
> This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the
> body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood
> and generally make you feel happier.

> PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates
> blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

> Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin
> in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

> Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium
> yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the
> US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to
> make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood
> pressure and stroke.

> Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England)
> were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast,
> break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown
> that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more
> alert.
>
> Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
> restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
> resorting to laxatives.

> Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
> banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and,
> with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while
> the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

> Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you
> suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

> Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood
> sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
>
> Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
> affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
> amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
>
> Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

> Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria
> found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and
> chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most
> obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded
> that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood
> sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to
> keep levels steady.

> Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
> disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw
> fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also
> neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of
> the stomach.

> Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit
> that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant
> mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure
> their baby is born with a cool temperature.
>
>
>
> Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because
> they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

> Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up
> smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium
> found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine
> withdrawal.
>
> Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat,
> sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we
> are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium
> levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana
> snack.

> Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine,
> eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
> strokes by as much as 40%!

> Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill
> off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the
> yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or
> surgical tape!

>
>
> So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it
> to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three
> times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the
> other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of
> the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known
> phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

> PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

> PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will
> add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the
> banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe....polish with dry cloth.
> Amazing fruit !!!

Thanks Jim E.
I did not check this out so I don't know how much is true or not...